Virat Kohli's aggression can be counterproductive: Sunil Gavaskar

Virat Kohli and Brad Haddin

Former Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli’s aggressive behaviour can have detrimental effects on the Indian team and that the 26-year-old should be cautious of it. 

Kohli has been involved in a few verbal duels with the Australian cricketers, both on and off the field, right through the ongoing 4-match Test series, particularly with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, and has said that he finds no reason to respect those who don’t respect him. 

Speaking to NDTV, the 65-year-old said that the Indians have suffered the consequence of firing Johnson up in the previous Test, at Brisbane, and shouldn't repeat the same mistake this time around.

"Kohli's verbal duels can be counterproductive and it can affect the Indian team," he said.

"The Indian team did the same in Brisbane against Johnson (88 and 4/61) and he blasted us. Kohli may get fired up, but he needs to know how it would affect the team," he added.

The Indian vice-captain has been speaking about how he wants his team to give it back to the Aussies, unlike the previous Indian teams; it hasn’t gone down too well with Gavaskar, who hit back saying that the recently retired greats of Indian cricket were not subdued personalities.

"If this (Kohli's aggression) is having some steel, are you suggesting that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly did not have it? They were also massively tough on the field," the former Indian opener said.

Respond, but don’t initiate

However, Gavaskar did admit that if the players are told something that's not right, then they shouldn’t hold back.

"If somebody says something to you, don't back off. If you believe what the person is saying is not correct, you have to stand up. But I don't think we should be initiating anything," he said.

Kohli scored a magnificent 169 on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test, but Gavaskar pointed out how the right-hander’s concentration went for a toss for a brief period of time following one of his exchanges with Johnson, which reflected on his batting. 

"He wasn't his normal self (on Sunday). He had a couple of edgy shots and a few chances. Let's not forget that it (exchange of words) had an effect on him," he said.